Cauliflower Mac N Cheese (Printable Version)
Creamy, veggie-packed comfort food with cauliflower and cheese sauce baked to golden perfection.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large head cauliflower, about 2 lbs, cut into bite-sized florets
→ Pasta
02 - 8 oz elbow macaroni or gluten-free pasta
→ Cheese Sauce
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour blend
05 - 2 cups whole milk
06 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
10 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
11 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Topping
14 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs
15 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 1 tbsp olive oil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower florets and cook for 4 minutes. Add pasta and cook both together for 5–6 minutes, until pasta is al dente and cauliflower is just tender. Drain well and set aside.
03 - In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a roux; cook for 1–2 minutes until bubbling but not browned, stirring constantly.
04 - Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly until sauce thickens, about 4–5 minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until completely smooth and melted.
06 - Combine cooked pasta and cauliflower with the cheese sauce. Mix thoroughly to coat evenly and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
07 - In a small bowl, toss breadcrumbs with Parmesan and olive oil until well combined. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the pasta mixture.
08 - Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until bubbling and golden brown on top. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get all the creamy comfort of mac and cheese while secretly adding a whole head of cauliflower to your dinner
- The cauliflower adds sweetness and texture that makes every bite more interesting than plain pasta
02 -
- Cooking the cauliflower and pasta together saves time and the starch from the pasta helps the sauce cling better later
- Letting the dish rest those 5 minutes after baking makes all the difference for the perfect texture
03 -
- Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded, it melts so much better and tastes fresher
- Room temperature milk incorporates more smoothly into the roux without any lumps